Care of trees and shrubs.

Hedges are a practical element in our gardens. They delimit the area and at the same time act as a visual and sound barrier. But what will you do if your favorite hedge suddenly gets sick?

Powdery mildew on the underside of the leaves

The evergreen laurel is one of the most popular plants for hedges: it grows quickly, is hardy enough, can be easily pruned, and is resistant to both winter frost and summer drought. However, the popular bayberry sometimes becomes more vulnerable to powdery mildew, which settles on the underside of the leaves rather than the top, as it usually does. This often leads to misdiagnosis and, as a result, improper treatment with reversible consequences. In any case, immediate action is required when these typical hedge diseases are infected, from extensive removal of affected areas to the use of suitable fungicides.

Quick action against insect damage.

In addition to fungal infections, hedges often suffer from insect damage. One of the most common insects is the little winter moth, which prefers beech and hornbeam hedges and loves to stuff its belly with their tender leaves. The caterpillars of this little butterfly are often clearly visible. In the fall, as soon as the first night frosts arrive, the insects emerge from their hiding places and the females lay eggs on young shoots. In spring, the larvae hatch from the eggs – and the first damage caused by their feeding is only a matter of time. To avoid permanent or even irreparable damage to hedges, the targeted use of pesticides is recommended if a pest infestation is detected.

Checklists & tips

If you see visible damage on the young leaves of your laurel hedge, you can almost immediately suspect powdery mildew

• A whitish residue on the underside and curly leaves are clear signs of powdery mildew.
• A slightly different picture is obtained with false powdery mildew: You can see a visible yellow-to-brown discoloration on the top of the leaf.